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UDFA Jack Strand had his First Taste of NFL Action on Sunday. How did it go?
- Story by
- UDFA Jack Strand had his First Taste of NFL Action on Sunday. How did it go?
The Atlanta Falcons got off to a bad start in their Week 2 home opener against the Carolina Panthers . Veteran quarterback Cooper Rush fumbled 30 seconds into the game , and things only went downhill from there. A flurry of penalties, miscues and interceptions left the Falcons at a loss as to how to move forward. Under these circumstances, undrafted free agent quarterback Jack Strand got his first taste of NFL action. How did the young Division II quarterback fare?
After Rush underthrew a pass that found the magical linebacker Devin Lloyd for his third interception , the Falcons' coaching staff—and fans—had seen enough. Down 27-3 with practically an entire half to play, coach Kevin Stefanski benched Rush for undrafted free agent Strand.
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The moment the fans in Mercedes-Benz Stadium understood what was happening, they erupted in cheers. There were already plenty of "Let's Get Stranded" signs in the stands as his fan club had formed during the preseason quarterback carousel chaos. This was the only moment the fans had to cheer for during the game. Unfortunately for the fans and the coaching staff, the excitement was short-lived.
Strand was placed in an impossible situation. Down 24 points and back in his own end zone, the inexperienced quarterback had little he could do to get them out of it. To his credit—and the running backs—he led the drive to a manageable 3rd-and-2 conversion. He dropped back and fired a pass to wide receiver Jahan Dotson that would have moved the chains for a first down. However, the ball was tipped in the air, and linebacker Lloyd recovered it for his second interception, resulting in a pick-six.
As much hope and faith as the fans had in Strand, it took only three plays for him to show he wasn't ready to lead an NFL team in a regular-season game. Fortunately for him, everyone understands the situation he was placed in, and the outcome doesn't indicate his future ability to be a competent backup quarterback in the NFL. The most important outcome after this for Strand is to maintain his confidence.
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It seems Week 2's quarterback disaster was enough for Michael Penix Jr. and the coaching staff to decide that it was time for his return, which will be on prime-time Thursday Night Football on Amazon Prime .
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Sep 23, 2026, where it first appeared in the Other Sports section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
